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Lotus finally broke through for its first win of the Formula One season, thanks to Kimi Räikkönen's strong run in Abu Dhabi. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Räikkönen win a boost for Lotus, Boullier

November 4, 2012

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Lotus F1 boss Eric Boullier says that Kimi Räikkönen’s Formula One race victory in Abu Dhabi shows that the team is now capable of competing with major rivals, despite having limited resources relative to the usual frontrunners.

In addition, it won’t hurt the team’s chances of finding crucial extra funding.

“It means that during the season we can keep fighting and keep being efficient in the development race,” Boullier said. “It’s good to see that our car [this past Sunday] was matching the pace and being fastest on track, or nearly the fastest one. And it’s it good to see what we produce as a team. We can do it, and we can compete with the big boys. That’s clearly a very good source of motivation and belief in the future.

“In the strategy, we want to be a top team: I’ve always said this. And to be a top team, you have to keep pushing and keep gaining more results, more resources and obviously more sponsors to make sure we can establish ourselves.”

Asked about the importance of Räikkönen’s current third-place standing in the championship, Boullier said: “To be two races before the end of the season and having Kimi in third position is obviously great. It’s good for us, it’s good for Kimi, it’s good for F1.”

Boullier conceded that it was good to get the first win out of the way, after having missed some chances earlier in the season.

“When we look back at the season we could say we were that close to do it, let’s do it next year,” he said. “I have to say, it’s a good relief to say it’s done.”